凡纳滨对虾低盐度高产虾池环境微生物生态研究

对广东珠三角地区,凡纳滨对虾低盐度高产虾池环境微生物调查结果,养殖水体异养菌平均数量为5.15×10⁴cfu·mL^-1,致病性弧菌为5.00×10³cfu·mL^-1,池底泥浆中异养细菌平均数量为2.41×10⁶cfu·mL^-1,致病性弧菌为1.45×10⁵cfu·mL^-1。不同虾池异养细菌的数量差别小而稳定,致病性弧菌的数量差别及波动大。淤泥较深的老化虾池,水体和泥浆中异养细菌平均分别为6.10×10⁴cfu·mL^-1和2.89×10⁶cfu·mL^-1,致病性弧菌为6.00×10³cfu·mL^-1和2.14×10⁵cfu·mL^-1;无淤泥虾池水体和泥浆中异养细菌平均分别为4.53×10⁴cfu·mL^-1和2.08×10⁶cfu·mL^-1,致病性弧菌为4.34×10³cfu·mL^-1和9.86×10⁴cfu·mL^-1。老化虾池底泥致病性弧菌明显偏高,成为老化虾池易爆发虾病的重要原因。低盐度虾池水体异养菌和致病性弧菌的数量变化,表现为养殖前期高,中后期低而稳定;池底泥浆中异养菌和致病性弧菌的数量变化,呈不规则波动。高的养殖水温对养殖环境异养菌和致病性弧菌表现抑制作用,养殖环境微生物与水体浮游藻类也有一定的关系。     

不同光照条件下外源水杨酸对浒苔响应紫外辐射胁迫的影响

为研究不同光照条件下,外源水杨酸(SA)和紫外辐射(UV)对海洋绿藻浒苔的复合效应,在两个光照强度(高光:160 μmol·m^-2·s^-1;低光:70 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)条件下,设置对照(CK)、SA、UV及UV+SA处理(UV=3.2 W·m^-2、SA=10 μg·mL^-1),处理3 d后测定浒苔生长、叶绿素荧光参数、光合放氧速率、超氧化物歧化酶活性、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量等的变化,探讨光照强度、UV及SA的复合效应.结果表明: 低光无UV条件下,SA会促进浒苔生长,降低浒苔叶绿素a(Chl a)和可溶性蛋白含量;高光无UV条件下, SA会抑制其生长,但显著提高了Chl a含量、呼吸速率、光合放氧速率、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量;高光和UV条件下, UV+SA显著促进浒苔生长,提高Chl a和可溶性糖含量;低光和UV条件下,与UV相比,UV+SA提高了浒苔最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)和可溶性蛋白含量,涨幅分别为139.8%和32.2%.外源SA的加入在一定程度上缓解了UV对浒苔的胁迫作用,且在高光条件下的效果更为显著.     

海州湾及其邻近海域浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

根据2011年春季(5月)、夏季(7月)、秋季(9月)和冬季(12月)在海州湾及其邻近海域开展的大面积综合调查数据,对海州湾浮游植物群落的种类组成、优势种、丰度以及多样性的时空变化特征进行研究,并应用典范对应分析(CCA)研究了环境因子对海州湾浮游植物群落结构的影响.本次调查共鉴定出浮游植物113种,隶属于3门44属.其中,硅藻门种类最多,共39属99种,占总种数的87.6%;甲藻门次之,共4属13种,占总种数的11.5%;金藻门仅1属1种.优势种中硅藻门主要以圆筛藻属和角毛藻属为主,甲藻门以角藻属为主,主要优势种为膜状缪氏藻、细弱圆筛藻、浮动弯角藻和派格棍形藻等,优势种组成具有明显的季节演替现象.海州湾各站位浮游植物的丰度为0.08×10⁵～108.48×10⁵ cells·m^-3,年平均丰度为10.71×10⁵ cells·m^-3,其中,秋季最高(29.08×10⁵ cells·m^-3),夏季最低(1.69×10⁵ cells·m^-3).Shannon多样性指数(H)、均匀度指数(J)和丰富度指数(D)均为夏、秋季高,冬、春季低.典范对应分析(CCA)表明,影响海州湾及其邻近海域浮游植物丰度和分布的主要环境因子依次为海水表面温度(SST)、营养盐(NO₃^--N、PO₄^3- P、SiO₃^2- Si)和溶解氧(DO),尤其是一些浮游植物优势种的丰度和分布与上述环境因子密切相关.
     

雨生红球藻ZL-1 生长和虾青素积累条件优化

分离鉴定了一株雨生红球藻ZL-1, 比较了不同接种密度和吲哚乙酸浓度对其生长的影响; 在此基础上, 探究了不同浓度水杨酸和盐度对雨生红球藻虾青素积累的影响。结果表明: (1)接种密度为2.00×10⁴ cell·mL^–1 时, 雨生红球藻生长快速, 最终生物量达到最大值0.43 g·L^–1; 不动细胞比游动细胞更快的积累虾青素, 高光诱导不动细胞得到最高虾青素产量为8.44 mg·L^–1; IAA 终浓度为1.5 mg·L^–1 时, 雨生红球藻生长速度最快, 最终细胞密度和干重分别比对照组提高了24.28%和27.11%; (2)水杨酸具有缓解高光胁迫和促进虾青素积累的双重作用, 15 和25 mg·L^–1水杨酸诱导下, 雨生红球藻生物量较高, 虾青素产量分别比对照组提高了18.18%和18.94%; 使用4‰的盐度胁迫雨生红球藻, 虾青素产量较对照组提高了17.42%, 但盐度也会引起藻细胞的漂白、死亡, 导致生物量显著降低。     

温度和盐度对浒苔生长和光合生理特性的影响

为研究海水盐度和温度对大型海藻光合生理影响的复合效应,选取浒苔（Ulva prolifera）为实验材料,探讨不同温度（22℃和15℃）和不同盐度（25和10）对浒苔的相对生长速率、色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、可溶性蛋白含量等影响。结果表明:在低温条件下,盐度对浒苔生长的影响不显著,而在正常温度条件下,盐度降低显著降低了浒苔的生长;在低盐条件下,尽管差异不显著,温度降低呈现出促进浒苔生长的趋势,但在正常盐度条件下,低温降低了浒苔的生长。相对于温度变化,盐度变化对浒苔潜在的光合效率（F_v/F_m）影响不明显,但低温低盐处理下浒苔具有较高的效光化学效率（F_v’/F_m’）、光能利用效率（α）、非光化学淬灭（NPQ）、SOD酶活性及可溶性蛋白含量。     

钦州湾浮游植物周年生态特征

2008-2009年对钦州湾及附近海域进行4个季节航次的浮游植物调查,共鉴定出浮游植物131种,其中硅藻种数最多,达101种,占浮游植物总种数的77.1%;甲藻次之,23种;其他种类3门7种.浮游植物以广温性种和暖水性种为主.总种类数的季节变化与硅藻种类数均为春季最低,夏、秋、冬依次增加,冬季最高.各季节浮游植物丰度为232.28×10⁴～977.0×10⁴ cell·m^-3,平均为558.57×10⁴ cell·m^-3;各季节浮游植物丰度呈现夏、春、冬和秋依次减少的趋势;各区域浮游植物丰度四季均为由内湾至外湾先升高、到湾外逐渐降低的趋势,但在夏季其高丰度区由外湾南移至湾口附近.浮游植物群落的Shannon多样性指数和均匀度指数平均值分别为3.18和0.63,多样性水平较高.浮游植物丰度与温度、盐度、溶解性无机氮及活性磷酸盐的相关关系因季节而变化.     

河南典型暖(热)性草地固碳特征及区域差异

通过野外调查取样与室内分析,研究了河南两种气候区内分布的典型草地(豫西北的暖性草丛和暖性灌草丛,豫南的暖性草丛、暖性灌草丛、热性草丛和热性灌草丛)植被与土壤碳密度特征及碳分布差异.结果表明: 豫西北与豫南地区草地植被地上平均生物量分别为327.4和221.4 g·m^-2,呈北高南低趋势,差异显著;而根系平均生物量分别为1.58×10³和1.94×10³ g·m^-2,呈南高北低趋势,且差异显著.豫西北和豫南地区地上平均碳密度分别为113.75和77.35 g C·m^-2.豫西北地区暖性草丛植被地上碳密度大于暖性灌草丛,但差异不显著;而豫南地区热性草丛活体碳密度显著低于其他3种类型草地.豫西北与豫南地区地下平均碳密度分别为6.35×10³和5.14×10³ g C·m^-2.豫西北地区2种类型草地根系碳密度和土壤碳密度差异均不显著;豫南地区热性灌草丛根系碳密度显著低于其他3种类型草地,而热性草丛土壤碳密度显著大于其他3种类型草地.豫西北和豫南地区草地生态系统平均碳密度分别为6.46×10³和5.22×10³ g C·m^-2,呈北高南低趋势,且土壤贡献最大(78%～90%).豫西北地区2种类型草地生态系统碳密度差异不显著;豫南地区热性草丛生态系统碳密度最高为9.70×10³ g C·m^-2,显著大于其他3种类型草地.本研究结果为准确计算河南不同类型草地生态系统碳储量及评估其固碳潜力提供基础数据.     

24-表油菜素内酯和盐度对浒苔生长和生理活性的影响

为探讨低温条件下外源植物激素和盐度变化对浒苔光合生理的影响,本文选取浒苔为供试材料,研究24-表油菜素内酯和盐度对其生长、光合色素、叶绿素荧光参数、抗氧化活性和可溶性蛋白含量的影响.结果表明: 与正常盐度(近岸海水盐度为25)相比,浒苔的生长在盐度10处理下显著增加,增幅为45.9%,但在盐度5处理下显著降低.盐度5处理的浒苔比其他盐度处理具有较高的Chl a和可溶性蛋白.24-表油菜素内酯(0.2 mg·L^-1)的加入显著抑制了浒苔的生长,尤其在盐度25处理下,浒苔呈现负增长的趋势,并大量释放孢子(配子),有效光化学效率、超氧化物歧化酶酶活性和可溶性糖含量明显降低,但可溶性蛋白含量显著增加.即在温度15 ℃条件下,可通过适当降低盐度促进浒苔的生长;在盐度25条件下,可通过添加24-表油菜素内酯促进孢子(配子)释放,为浒苔的大规模养殖提供原材料.     

滴水湖及其引水河道沉积物中磷细菌的生态调查

2010年对滴水湖及其引水河道沉积物中可培养有机磷细菌(OPB)、无机磷细菌(IPB)的分布变化规律进行了为期1年的调查.结果表明,闸外引水河沉积物中OPB、IPB年平均含量分别为2.76×10⁴±1.31×10⁴CFU·g^-1和7.19×10³±3.98×10³CFU·g^-1;闸内引水河中分别为1.05×10⁴±3.56×10³ CFU·g^-1和2.54×10³±8.77×10² CFU·g^-1;滴水湖中则为6.69×10³±2.63×10³ CFU·g^-1和1.66×10³±5.83×10² CFU·g^-1.滴水湖及其引水河道沉积物中OPB、IPB数量与水体中磷元素含量密切相关,各采样点OPB、IPB数量与总磷(TP)含量均呈极显著正相关,且均高于与总溶解性磷(TDP)、活性磷(AP)的相关系数.     

不同藻密度下Cd2+浓度对萼花臂尾轮虫生命表统计学参数的影响

为了比较不同食物密度下污染物浓度对受试生物的慢性毒性,筛选出以轮虫为受试生物对水环境中Cd污染进行监测的敏感指标,研究了在不同斜生栅藻密度(1.0×10⁶、3.0×10⁶和5.0 ×10⁶ cells·ml^-1)下不同浓度(2.5、5.0、10.0、20.0和40.0 μg·L^-1)Cd²⁺对萼花臂尾轮虫生命表统计学参数的影响.结果表明：(25±1) ℃下Cd²⁺对轮虫的24 h LC₅₀为37.7 μg·L^-1.与各藻密度下的对照组相比,当藻密度为1.0×10⁶ cells·ml^-1时,20.0和40.0 μg·L^-1的Cd²⁺显著延长了轮虫的世代时间,5.0 μg·L^-1的Cd²⁺显著提高了轮虫的后代混交率;当藻密度为3.0×10⁶ cells·ml^-1时,除了5.0 μg·L^-1外,其他浓度的Cd²⁺显著降低了轮虫的后代混交率;而当藻密度为5.0×10⁶ cells·ml^-1时,Cd²⁺浓度对轮虫的所有生命表统计学参数均无显著影（P>0.05）.藻密度对轮虫的世代时间、生命期望、净生殖率和后代混交率均有显著影响（P<0.05）,Cd²⁺浓度对轮虫的世代时间和后代混交率有显著影响（P<0.05）,两者交互作用对后代混交率有极显著影响（P<0.01）.轮虫的世代时间和后代混交率是在1.0×10.6和3.0×10.6 cells·ml^-1食物密度下对Cd²⁺污染比较敏感的参数,其中后代混交率最敏感.     

不同盐度对苦草生理特征的影响

沉水植物耐盐性研究越来越受到人们高度重视。在室内模拟条件下,水体盐度设为2、3、4、5、6和8,及不加盐卤的对照组(记为0),每24 h测定苦草(Vallisneria natans)叶片叶绿素含量,SOD、POD和CAT 3种抗氧化酶活性,MDA含量及呼吸强度。结果表明:叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量和CAT酶活性随盐度增加呈降低趋势;SOD、POD酶活性、MDA含量随盐度增加呈先升后降趋势;盐度为2和3时叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶酶活性、MDA含量和呼吸强度与对照组相比差异性不显著(P>0.05),苦草生长状态较其它处理组好;盐度为4时,所测叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶活性和呼吸强度与对照组相比差异性显著(P<0.05),叶绿素含量明显降低,抗氧化酶活性升高,表现出了明显的抗逆性,呼吸强度降低;盐度为5、6和8时与对照组相比,苦草生长状态较差,并逐步枯萎,第4 d死亡。因此苦草可应用于盐度低于3水体中沉水植被的恢复与重建。     

Varietal differences in the toxicity of sodium ions in rice leaves

The water relations and growth responses of an extreme halophyte, Salicornia virginica , and a common glycophyte, Raphanus sativus , were comparatively examined in a hydroponic growth experiment employing a broad range of salinities. Root conductivity (in growth solutions and distilled water), expressed sap osmolality, water use efficiency, relative growth rate, and salt uptake were the primary responses monitored. Salicornia responded to increasing salinity by decreasing root conductivity (in the growth solutions) and increasing salt uptake, while water use efficiency and growth rates were minimally affected. The inhibitory effects of salinity upon root conductivity were reversible in distilled water, and, importantly, the highest recovery rates were from plants grown in the moderate and high salinities. Salicornia displayed an enhanced ability to absorb water in distilled water following growth in solutions with elevated salinities. In contrast, Raphanus responded to comparatively small increases in growth solution salinity by drastically decreasing growth rates as well as root conductivity (in the growth solutions), while salt uptake and water use efficiency increased under the moderate salinity level. In Raphanus the inhibitory effects of increased salinity upon root conductivity were only partially reversible in distilled water, and the highest recovery rates were from plants grown in the low salinity Thus, once salinity stress was withdrawn, Raphanus exhibited a suppressed ability to move water through the roots. The results are discussed in the light of selected, commonly proposed mechanisms of salinity-induced growth inhibition.     

高盐下条斑紫菜光合特性和S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶基因表达的变化

为了研究条斑紫菜耐盐机理,对条斑紫菜叶状体进行了高盐胁迫处理,继而采用氧电极法测量了光合放氧速率和呼吸耗氧速率的变化,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术测量了S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶(命名为PySAMS)基因的表达变化。结果显示藻体的光合与呼吸作用均受到高盐度海水的显著影响,随着盐度的增加,光合放氧率逐渐降低,呼吸耗氧率也逐渐降低。高盐度海水对PySAMS基因表达量也产生了显著影响,40和50盐度的海水诱导了PySAMS表达,但60至80盐度的海水却不同程度地抑制了PySAMS表达。据此推测,在面对较高盐度胁迫时条斑紫菜叶状体将逐步降低体内新陈代谢以度过不良环境。     

Long-term hyposaline and hypersaline stresses produce distinct antioxidant responses in the marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta

Tolerance to salinity stress in higher plants correlates to levels of antioxidant enzymes and/or substrates. Do hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic stress induce antioxidant responses in salt tolerant algae, and if so, are these responses the same for both excess and minimal salinity? To answer these questions, cultures of the marine alga Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta) were grown in seven salinities covering a 60-fold range from 0.05 to 3.0 mol/L NaCl. Long-term effects of salinity on growth and antioxidant parameters were determined. Growth rates were reduced at the salinity extremes (0.05 mol/L NaCl and 3 mol/L NaCl) indicating the cultures were stressed. The levels of six antioxidant enzymes and three antioxidant substrates were quantified at these growth salinities. Compared to growth at optimum salinities (i.e. 0.2-0.5 mol/L NaCl), high salinities produced a 260% increase in monodehydroascorbate reductase, a doubling of ascorbate peroxidase activity and a three-fold increase in the rate of dark respiration. Cells acclimated to low growth salinities (hyposaline stress, i.e. < 0.2 mol/L NaCl) showed major increases in glutathione and alpha-tocopherol coupled with decreases in Fv/Fm ratios and in total and reduced ascorbate compared to moderate and high external salinities. Cell volumes remained unchanged, except at the lowest salinity where they doubled. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase activities were not altered by extreme salinities. The involvement of oxidative stress at both salinity extremes is implied by the alterations in antioxidant enzymes and substrates, but the specific changes are very different between hypo and hypersaline stresses.     

Evidence that heat and ultraviolet radiation activate a common stress-response program in plants that is altered in the uvh6 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The uvh6 mutant of Arabidopsis was previously isolated in a screen for increased sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. uvh6 mutant plants were killed by incubation at 37 degrees C for 4 d, a treatment not lethal to wild-type plants. Furthermore, under permissive conditions, uvh6 plants were yellow-green with an approximately one-third lower chlorophyll content. Genetic analysis of the uvh6 mutant strongly suggested that all three mutant phenotypes were due to mutation at the same genetic locus. To understand UVH6 function more fully, the response of wild-type plants to growth at elevated temperatures and exposure to UV radiation was analyzed. Wild-type plants grown at 30 degrees C were as UV-hypersensitive and yellow-green as uvh6 mutant plants grown at 24 degrees C. Mutant uvh6 plants induced heat-shock protein HSP21 at a lower threshold temperature than wild-type plants, indicating that the uvh6 mutant was exhibiting signs of heat stress at a 4 to 5 degrees C lower temperature than wild-type plants. We propose the UV damage and heat induce a common stress response in plants that leads to tissue death and reduced chloroplast function, and that the UVH6 product is a negative regulator of this response.     

Effects of NaCl and CaCl(2) on Cell Enlargement and Cell Production in Cotton Roots

In many crop species, supplemental Ca²⁺ alleviates the inhibition of growth typical of exposure to salt stress. In hydroponically grown cotton seedlings (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Acala SJ-2), both length and weight of the primary root were enhanced by moderate salinities (25 to 100 millimolar NaCl) in the presence of 10 millimolar Ca²⁺, but the roots became thinner. Anatomical analysis showed that the cortical cells of these roots were longer and narrower than those of the control plants, while cortical cells of roots grown at the same salinities but in the presence of only 0.4 millimolar Ca²⁺ became shorter and more nearly isodiametrical. Cell volume, however, was not affected by salinities up to 200 millimolar NaCl at either 0.4 or 10 millimolar Ca²⁺. Our observations suggest Ca²⁺-dependent effects of salinity on the cytoskeleton. The rate of cell production declined with increasing salinity at 0.4 millimolar Ca²⁺ but at 10 millimolar Ca²⁺ was not affected by salinities up to 150 millimolar NaCl.     

Effects of reduced salinities on development and bioenergetics of early larval shore crab, Carcinus maenas

The shore crab, Carcinus maenas L. (Portunidae), is a coastal and estuarine species, which can live and reproduce under brackish water conditions; freshly hatched larvae have been observed in the field at salinities below 15‰. In the present laboratory study, the tolerance of hypo-osmotic stress was experimentally investigated in early larvae of a marine (North Sea) population of C. maenas reared at four different salinities (15, 20, 25, 32‰). Two and 4 days after hatching, the Zoea I larvae were moult-staged microscopically, and their rates of respiration and growth (changes in dry weight, W, carbon, C, nitrogen, N, and hydrogen, H) were measured. Survival and development were monitored until the megalopa was reached: 15‰ did not allow for development beyond the first zoeal stage, while metamorphosis to the megalopa was reached at salinities ≥20‰. At 20‰, development was significantly delayed and mortality enhanced as compared with 25 and 32‰. Rates of growth and respiration decreased during exposure to reduced salinities ≤25‰. Hence, the suppression of growth could not be explained as a consequence of enhanced metabolic losses per larva. Instead, a partial C budget indicates that the Zoea I larvae suffered from decreased capabilities of assimilating ingested and subsequently converting assimilated matter to tissue growth. Net growth efficiency (K₂, C-based) was at 25 and 32‰ initially high (>60% during the postmoult and intermoult stages of the Zoea I moult cycle), but decreased during the later stages (down to ≤30% in premoult). An inverse pattern of C partitioning was observed at ≤20‰, with initially low K₂ values (≤21% during the first 2 days of the moult cycle), and a later increase (up to ≥46% in premoult). Thus, larval growth was initially suppressed under conditions of reduced salinity, but this was later (during premoult) partially compensated for by an increase in C assimilation and K₂. Our observations indicate that Zoea I shore crab larvae react during the late stages of their moulting cycle less sensitively against reduced salinities than during postmoult and intermoult. This suggests that the transition between moult cycle stages C and D₀ may be a critical point for effects of hypo-osmotic stress, similarly as already known in relation to effects of nutritional stress. Negative effects were found also when freshly hatched Zoea I shore crab larvae were exposed only transitorily (for 24–72 h) to 20‰, with significantly lower rates of survival, development, growth, respiration, and K₂. These effects increased with increasing duration of initial exposure to reduced salinity.     

Effects of Low Salinity on Adult Behavior and Larval Performance in the Intertidal Gastropod Crepipatella peruviana (Calyptraeidae)

Shallow-water coastal areas suffer frequent reductions in salinity due to heavy rains, potentially stressing the organisms found there, particularly the early stages of development (including pelagic larvae). Individual adults and newly hatched larvae of the gastropod Crepipatella peruviana were exposed to different levels of salinity stress (32(control), 25, 20 or 15), to quantify the immediate effects of exposure to low salinities on adult and larval behavior and on the physiological performance of the larvae. For adults we recorded the threshold salinity that initiates brood chamber isolation. For larvae, we measured the impact of reduced salinity on velar surface area, velum activity, swimming velocity, clearance rate (CR), oxygen consumption (OCR), and mortality (LC50); we also documented the impact of salinity discontinuities on the vertical distribution of veliger larvae in the water column. The results indicate that adults will completely isolate themselves from the external environment by clamping firmly against the substrate at salinities ≤24. Moreover, the newly hatched larvae showed increased mortality at lower salinities, while survivors showed decreased velum activity, decreased exposed velum surface area, and decreased mean swimming velocity. The clearance rates and oxygen consumption rates of stressed larvae were significantly lower than those of control individuals. Finally, salinity discontinuities affected the vertical distribution of larvae in the water column. Although adults can protect their embryos from low salinity stress until hatching, salinities <24 clearly affect survival, physiology and behavior in early larval life, which will substantially affect the fitness of the species under declining ambient salinities.     

The influence of salinity on certain aspects of the biology of Bulinus (Physopsis) africanus

The hatchability of eggs and the fecundity and survival of adult Bulinus (Physopsis) africanus was investigated in different salinities. Experimental results revealed egg masses and hatchlings to be considerably more sensitive to salinity than the adult snails. Egg-laying was recorded in salinities 4·5 ‰ and further increases in salinity resulted in a progressive reduction in the hatching success up to a lethal concentration of 5·25 ‰ Survival of these hatchings was adversely affected by salinities as low as 1·0 ‰ and a salinity of 4·5 ‰ was lethal within 6 days. In contrast, adult survival was unaffected in salinities < 3·5 ‰ while further increases in salinity resulted in significant reductions in survival up to a lethal salinity of 8·7 ‰, which caused 100% mortality within 24 h. The survival of B. africanus infected with Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mattheei was lower in the different salinities and control than that of their uninfected counterparts.     

Population dynamics of the harmful diatom Eucampia zodiacus Ehrenberg causing bleachings of Porphyra thalli in aquaculture in Harima-Nada, the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

The diatom Eucampia zodiacus Ehrenberg is one of the harmful diatom species which indirectly cause bleachings of Nori (Porphyra thalli) in aquaculture through competitive utilizing of nutrients (especially nitrogen) and resultant nutrient depletion in water columns during the bloom events. The seasonal changes in environmental factors, cell density and cell size of E. zodiacus were investigated for 4 years (April 2002–December 2005) to understand the population ecology of this diatom in Harima-Nada, the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Vegetative cells of E. zodiacus were usually detected year-round. Total cell densities of E. zodiacus annually peaked from mid-February to early April, and high cell densities were observed in the whole water columns during the bloom-period. Nutrient concentrations decreased with the increase of cell density of E. zodiacus, and low nutrients concentrations continued throughout the E. zodiacus bloom-period. The average cell size (length of apical axis) of E. zodiacus populations ranged from 10.8 μm to 81.2 μm, and the restoration of cell size occurred once in autumn every year just after reaching the minimum cell size. In addition, its great seasonal regularity was confirmed by the decrease and restoration of its cell size through 4-year study period. Temperature and nutrients were suitable in autumn for the growth of E. zodiacus, its blooms never occur in that season. These results strongly suggest that E. zodiacus did not have a resting stage, and it spends autumn for size restoration and starts to bloom thereafter in Harima-Nada in winter and spring, causing fishery damage to Nori aquaculture by resulting nutrient deprivation.